Geelong sets sights on Super Netball plan

GEELONG Netball Club has confirmed its interest in securing a spot in Australia’s premier netball competition but says the city needs a purpose-built stadium to host professional matches.

The club on Tuesday responded to speculation that Geelong could soon enter the Super Netball league following news that Collingwood is reviewing its Super Netball program, with the club’s ongoing participation in the competition in doubt.

Netball Australia last week reaffirmed its commitment to an eight-team league in 2024 meaning it could be scrambling to find a club to replace the magpies in next year’s competition.

Commentators had raised Geelong as a potential host for the new eighth side, should the league want to keep two teams in Victoria and to provide a regional point of difference to the Melbourne Vixens club that has been successful in the city.

Geelong Netball Club – which manages the state-level Cougars Victorian Netball League team and Flyers development program – said this week that a Super Netball license within five years was on its radar, but that next season would likely come too soon for its ambition.

It said that an elite training and playing facility was essential for Geelong to compete in the national league.

“The club has recently completed a strategic plan taking us through until 2028 which does include as one of our longer-term goals, being in a position to secure an SSN Licence when the opportunity arises,” a club statement read.

“To do this we must have an appropriate local venue for training and to host SSN games. Such a facility is not currently available in Geelong and we are optimistic that new facilities being built for the 2026 Commonwealth Games will be made available for this purpose.

“We will continue to work with the City of Greater Geelong, Netball Victoria and other stakeholders to realise this goal.”

The club said that the Geelong and South Barwon region had a passionate netball community that would make a professional team viable.

It also pointed to its strong track record of producing elite talent through players such as Emily Mannix, Simone McKinnis, Madi and Kelsey Browne, Tegan Phillip, Mel Bragg, Alice Teague-Neeld and Allie Smith.